Bar Trump

To the editor:

Twenty years ago, next month, I was sworn in as a Peace Corps volunteer by the U.S. ambassador to Belize. This is the oath I swore to uphold:

“I, (first, last name) do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. (So help me God.)”

The oath is similar if not the same as the oath taken by members of the U.S. military, U.S. diplomats, elected federal office holders, and the president.

I took the oath seriously as an obligation to represent my country to the best of my abilities and uphold the principles of the Constitution while serving in a host nation.

It is now very clear that President Donald Trump did purposely with malice and forethought attempt to overturn a free and fair election by illegal means and did plan and incite an invasion of our national capital by a mob of supporters resulting in death and injury to law enforcement personnel tasked with protecting our government.

Whatever criminal charges and convictions result from his actions are after the fact. He violated the oath of office to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and must never be allowed to stand for or hold an elected or appointed federal office.

As for Kansas members of the Congress Roger Marshall, Tracy Mann, Ron Estes, and Jacob LaTurner, who voted with the 147 Republicans to overturn the election on Jan. 6, 2021, thier allegiance to the Constitution, free and fair elections, and a peaceful transfer of power is very much in question and should stain them from ever being re-elected to a public office.

Harry E. Bennett
Madison, Wisconsin